Lakeside Dining
With more than 550 lakes dotting Polk County, locals and visitors alike all have their favorite lakeside dining spot. In Winter Haven, with full-length windows and a lakeside patio, Harborside Restaurant is a modern American steakhouse, seafood and oyster bar that features only the finest cuts of dry aged meat and daily delivered fresh fish. Also in Winter Haven, with its neighborhood restaurant feel and its location on the shores of Lake Ned, no place epitomizes casual lakefront dining more than Harry’s Old Place. Situated on the shores of scenic Lake Pierce in Lake Wales, Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak provides a perfect blend of entertainment, scenery and fresh seafood.
Fine Dining
If you’re headed to Winter Haven or Lakeland for a romantic weekend, or if your kids have a sophisticated palate, book a reservation at our most popular fine dining restaurants including Arabellas Ristorante and Nutwood in Winter Haven, or Nineteen61, Bay Street Bistro and Scarpa’s Italian in Lakeland. In 2017, Arabellas Ristorante was named in OpenTable’s Most Romantic Florida Restaurants list.
Local Favorites
From kid-friendly restaurants and barbecue restaurants recognized by Garden & Gun Magazine, to Gastropubs and TripAdvisor’s #1 restaurant in Lakeland, here are a few of our local favorites: Andy’s Drive-in Restaurant & Igloo, Fire Restaurant and Bistro Pizza in Winter Haven, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, and Café Zuppina in Lakeland, and Peebles Bar-B-Q in Auburndale.
Sweets & Baked Good
Cookies, cakes, pies, and CRUFFINS are just a few of the goodies you can find at the various artisanal bakeries located in Polk County. But don’t fear – if you’d rather gelato or perhaps a Turkish coffee, we’ve got you covered too. Our local favorites include Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) and The Market at Café Zuppina in Lakeland. If you’re on the east side of Polk County, go to Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop in Winter Haven or Lavender n’ Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred.
Coffee Shops
You can visit chain coffee shops anywhere, so be sure to experience one of Polk County’s locally owned shops during your Central Florida vacation. Concord Coffee in Lakeland is a roaster and coffee shop, Hillcrest Coffee features a variety of locally roasted beans including Ethos Roasters, while Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro in Lakeland brews locally roasted Patriot Coffee. Ethos Roasters is also served at N+1 Coffee in Winter Haven.
Blackburn’s BBQ
Blackburn's BBQ in Eagle Lake serves oak smoked pork ribs, chicken, pulled pork and beef…
Address: 169 5th St
Eagle Lake, FL 33839
Phone: (863) 287-9975
blackburnbbq@gmail.comPolk City BBQ Company
Polk City BBQ Company serves meats by the pound, piece or slab. Beef brisket, spare…
Address: 221 Commonwealth Ave N
Polk City, FL 33868
Phone: 863-874-4740
info@lakelandbbq.comCarter’s Bar-B-Que
Carter’s Barbeque is a family owned restaurant that has been around for the last decade…
Address: 709 E Canal St
Mulberry, FL 33860
Phone: 863-425-1983
The Smokin’ Ox Premium BBQ
Premium BBQ favorites such as Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, Chopped Pork, Smoked Wings, Smoked Chicken,…
Address: 204 6th St. SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: (863)875-4859
thesmokinox@gmail.comSmokin Jim’s House of Barbeque
Smokin Jim's House of Barbeque serves award winning barbeque in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Enjoy…
Address: 3615 Havendale Blvd
Auburndale, FL 33823
Phone: 863-965-0230
JimRabe@msn.comSchack Bar-B-Que
Schack Bar-B-Que is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Schack Bar-B-Que is near LEGOLAND Florida…
Address: 3000 Cypress Gardens Rd
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Phone: 863-324-1537
Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits
MOJO Federal Swine & Spirits is a small Florida chain serving smoked meats, house made…
Address: 130 S Tennessee Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-937-4226
mburton@mojobbq.comThe Brack Shack Restaurant
BBQ restaurant located in Auburndale, FL serving up unique BBQ creations like pulled pork eggrolls.
Address: 231 E Lake Ave
Auburndale, FL 33823
Phone: (863) 875-8540
Mission BBQ
Mission BBQ serves authentic barbecue made from the freshest ingredients, and served in a patriotic…
Address: 4014 S Florida Ave
Lakeland, FL 33813
Phone: 863-225-8433